Forklaring

Forklaring is a noun used in Danish and Norwegian to denote an explanation, clarification, or account of reasons. It refers to the act of making something clear or to the information that explains how something works, why it happened, or what should be done next. In education, journalism, science, law, and everyday speech, a forklaring helps readers or listeners understand a subject by providing definitions, causes, steps, or justification.

Etymology and form: Forklaring is formed from the verb forklare (to explain) plus the nominal suffix -ing. The root klar- means clear, and cognates appear in related languages. In Swedish, the equivalent term is förklaring, with a different spelling and diacritic.

Usage and examples: The term commonly appears in manuals, textbooks, news articles, and legal documents. Phrases include en kort forklaring (a short explanation) and forklaring af årsagerne (explanation of the causes). In English translations, forklaring is rendered as 'explanation' or 'clarification.'

Variants and translations: Danish and Norwegian both use forklaring; the plural is forklaringer. Swedish uses förklaring (plural förklaringar). In modern Danish and Norwegian, the word remains a standard term for explanatory content, whether in writing or speech.

See also: Explanation, clarification, rationale, exegesis.